He found at once the passage he wanted and read—
“Jesus answered them. Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.”
He paused and glanced across at his son; but meeting with no response, turned over the leaves of the Book and read again—
“And when He had dipped the sop He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.”
He handed the book back to Hannah, and gazed steadily at Jagger.
“That was t’ last time, lad. How oft do you think He’d supped wi’ him before?”
“He didn’t cure him,” said Jagger who was secretly proud of his father’s ready wit, though not willing to acknowledge defeat; “Judas was a rank wrong ’un, same as Inman: one o’ them you can’t cure.”
“I don’t know whether He cured him or He didn’t,” replied Maniwel; “but I’ve always had an idea ’at Judas rued when he found ’at he’d gone ower far, and there’s never no telling what drove him to put t’ rope round his neck.”
“I could wish Inman ’ud get as far as that,” said Jagger flippantly.
“If I thought you weren’t lying, lad,” Maniwel replied sternly after looking at him searchingly for a moment; “I should be ashamed of you. The Lord pity you if it’s true!”